For questions about starting a neighborhood watch group, call Martin County Sheriff's Office community programs coordinator Laura Passanesi at 772-320-4749.

MARTIN COUNTY — Martin County Sheriff's Office is investigating two "pillowcase" style burglaries that occurred Thursday in the Fox Meadow subdivision, just off Pratt-Whitney Road and west of Interstate 95, according to incident reports released Monday.

The two homes are about a half of a mile apart and reported the incidents within four hours of each other.

About 1 p.m. Thursday, deputies responded to the 11300 block of Southwest Meadow Lark Circle after the victim returned home from running errands.

Thieves broke a window in the back of the house and took a .380 Lama handgun, which was hidden in a dresser drawer and a pillow case from the master bedroom, according to the report.

A neighbor remembered seeing a white vehicle in the victim's driveway between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., the report states.

About four hours later, deputies returned to the neighborhood when a homeowner in the 11500 block of Southwest Meadow Lark Circle returned from running errands to find the rear sliding glass door smashed.

Several pieces of jewelry and a brightly colored, floral pillowcase were missing, the report states.

Since 2011, the Sheriff's Office has investigated more than 92 burglaries — at least 16 this year — involving burglars from Broward County who travel to Martin County, break into homes and cart off jewelry, cash, and guns in pillowcases taken from victims' bedrooms.

The burglars often strike between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. when victims are at work or running errands. They enter the homes by shattering sliding glass doors or windows.

The sheriff's office has planned weekly town hall meetings this month, starting April 9, to discuss the burglaries.